Improvement in flooring-clamps



UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.N

ASA S. BLINN AND D. W. HEWITT, OF DUBUQUEIOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FLOORING-CLAM PS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 57,078, dated August 14, 1866.

` ence being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure lis a perspective representation of our 'improvement in iiooring and planking jack, including also a representation of the joists or ribs to which it is attached when in use, as 'shown at N N. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal elevation of that part of the lever to which the spring and pawl are attached. Fig.-3 represents the under side of one of the dogs used in our invention. Fig.`4 repre sents an outside longitudinal elevationof one of the dogs.

Thelobject of our invention is tofprovid convenient means by which a iiooring board or plank, of any thickness commonly used in laying floors and planking ships, may be set tight to other boards or planks when required.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use our invention, we will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

For the substantial part of our improvement We use the strong metallic head-block or part A, to `which all other parts are attached. R shows the mortises cut in the ends of the head-block A for the' purpose of holding the endsof the dogs G. These dogs are held in the mortises R by means of the common thumb-screws I, which pass through the ends of the head-block A near the center of the mortise and through the ends of thedogs (J. The mortises R are `made wide enough to allow the dogs C to revolve upon the screw4 l., so that the ends of the dogs C at J may he spread apart or shut `together to suit the various spacings of joistsor ribs.

J shows the spurs on the ends of the dogs C, which are intended to be driven into the joists or ribs, so as to hold the jack in a rm position for use.

H shows the adjustable arms, the ends of which are bent downward at right angles for the purpose of giving a substantial bearing against the joists or ribs between which they operate.

m shows the slots in the horizontal part of `the arms H, whichV allow the arms to be eX- l tended or contracted to suit the distance'that `the joists 0r ribs are set apart. This is accomplished by loosening the thumb-screw I and sliding the arms under the heads of the screws to the required point, and then tightening the screws, which will hold the arms in the required position.

At B is represented the screw which is used asV the power. The head-block or part A is used as a burr or nut, through which the screw passes by means of the common screw-thread.

T, Fig. l, shows the common ratchet-wheel attached to the end of the screw B. This wheel is used in conjunction with the pawl F, spring K, and lever 4D, when operating the screw B.

S, Fig. 2, shows the projection on the pawl F, and Xthe projection on the spring K, used in reversing and holding the pawl F in posi-V tion""when the jack is in use. This is accomplished by forcing the spring K back and placing the projection S of' the pawl F 011 the opposite side vof the projection X of the spring K in the usual manner.

'It will be seen that this reverse movement of the pawl F will allow the screw B to be turned in either direction through the headblock A, which is` important in' loosening the screw after the planks have been set together.

Operation In order to use our invention it is first necessary to `place the opposite end of the screw from the ratchet T as near as practical to the flooring board or plank that is to be forced to a joint, and as near the center between the joists as convenient; then drive the points J J into the sides of the 'joists or ribs 5 then adjust the arms H H to the inside of the joists or ribs by means ot the slots m mand the thumb-screw II; then, by means of the lever D, by applying the hand to the handle L, turn the screw B until sufficient power is applied. The adjustment ofthe pawl Will be made on the side of the spring to ac- B, ratchet-Wheel T, pnW1F,and1everD,Wben commodate the directiun the screw is to be constructed to 'operate substantially as deturned. scribed. l

Having thus fully described our device, ASA S. BLINN. what; We claim, zmd desireto secure by Let- Y DANIEL W. HEWITT.' ters Patent of the United States, is- VVitneSses:

The arrangement and combination of the EDWD. SAWYER, head-block A, arms H, parts @,Witb the screw JOHN G. POTTS. 

